Best practices
Some suggestions and best practices regarding the configuration of Replica 365:
Will you use the data to be replicated in a follow-up process? For example, for integration into a webshop or a PIM?
Then it can be useful to replicate all fields in the item card once a day. And several times a day only the item number and inventory. A table can be included multiple times in Replica 365, as long as the External name is unique.
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Business Central has tables with a lot of records. For example, "G/L Entries" or the "Item Ledger Entries" table. It is advisable to initially load these Tables completely justonce. And then only load the Changes on a daily base.
PowerBI Reports - Querying on Azure Table Storage
It is possible to connect directly to Azure Table Storage using Microsoft PowerBI.
This is an excellent solution for less complex reports for which a Data Warehouse is unnecessary
Open PowerBI and click on “Get Data”
Choose “More”
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Search for “Azure Table Storage” and select the option
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Enter the “Base URL” (simular to the Base URL as earlier configured in BC)
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Sign in to the Azure Portal and find your account key, which is needed to connect. More information can be found here. Copy your Account key.
Paste the Account key in PowerBI:
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Select the Tables which you would like to include in your report and click “Load”
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Finally, you need to expand the actual “Data columns”. This is necesarry because of the connection method between PowerBI and Azure Table Storage. Click on the “Table view” icon.
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Click “Transform Data”
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The Power Query Editor opens. Click on the icon in the “Content” column.
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Uncheck “Use original column name as prefix”. You can leave this check if needed, but this will result in long(er) column names in PowerBI. Click “OK” to close this screen.
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All columns are shown now. Click on “Close & Apply” to close Power Query Editor.
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You are ready to start building your report!
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